Aircraft safety keeper for latch utilization
A latch mechanism is disclosed. In various embodiments, the latch mechanism includes a T-bolt body and a T-bolt comprising a longitudinal rod extending in a longitudinal direction from the T-bolt body and a transverse rod disposed at an end of the longitudinal rod. A safety keeper defining a load slot may be configured to receive the transverse rod whereby the T-bolt is configured to secure the T-bolt body with respect to the safety keeper.
1. A latch mechanism, comprising:
a T-bolt body;
a T-bolt comprising a longitudinal rod extending in a longitudinal direction from the T-bolt body and a transverse rod disposed at an end of the longitudinal rod; and
a safety keeper defining a load slot configured to receive the transverse rod whereby the T-bolt is configured to secure the T-bolt body with respect to the safety keeper, wherein the T-bolt body comprises an axial cutout extending longitudinally, wherein the axial cutout is configured to receive a forward pin and enable the T-bolt body to slide in the longitudinal direction with respect to the forward pin, and wherein the T-bolt body is pivotally mounted to a cowl panel via the forward pin.
2. The latch mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a latch handle pivotally coupled to the T-bolt body, wherein the T-bolt is configured to translate along the longitudinal direction with respect to the safety keeper in response to the latch handle moving between an open position and a closed position.
3. The latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the T-bolt is adjustable along the longitudinal direction with respect to the T-bolt body.
4. The latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the safety keeper further comprises a transverse pin configured for coupling the safety keeper to the cowl panel.
5. The latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the safety keeper further comprises a safety keeper longitudinal rod configured for coupling the safety keeper to the cowl panel.
6. The latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the load slot comprises a T-bolt receiving portion and a T-bolt loading portion, wherein the T-bolt receiving portion comprises a lateral slot disposed in the safety keeper and the T-bolt loading portion comprises a longitudinal slot disposed in the safety keeper.
7. The latch mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the transverse rod defines a characteristic dimension that is approximately equal to a lateral dimension of at least one of the T-bolt loading portion or the T-bolt receiving portion.
8. A latch mechanism, comprising:
a T-bolt body;
a latch handle pivotally coupled to the T-bolt body; and
a T-bolt comprising a longitudinal rod extending in a longitudinal direction from the T-bolt body, wherein a transverse rod is disposed at an end of the longitudinal rod located externally from the T-bolt body, wherein the transverse rod is configured to translate along the longitudinal direction in response to the latch handle moving between a closed position and an open position, wherein the T-bolt body comprises an axial cutout extending longitudinally, wherein the axial cutout is configured to receive a forward pin and enable the T-bolt body to slide in the longitudinal direction with respect to the forward pin, and wherein the T-bolt body is pivotally mounted to a cowl panel via the forward pin.
9. The latch mechanism of claim 8 , further comprising a safety keeper defining a load slot configured to receive the transverse rod to enable the T-bolt to secure the T-bolt body with respect to the safety keeper.
10. The latch mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the safety keeper further comprises a transverse pin configured for coupling the safety keeper to the cowl panel.
11. The latch mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the safety keeper further comprises a safety keeper longitudinal rod configured for coupling the safety keeper to the cowl panel.
12. The latch mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the load slot comprises a T-bolt receiving portion and a T-bolt loading portion, wherein the T-bolt receiving portion comprises a lateral slot disposed in the safety keeper and the T-bolt loading portion comprises a longitudinal slot disposed in the safety keeper.
13. The latch mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the safety keeper comprises a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member, and the load slot is disposed between the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member.
14. The latch mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the T-bolt receiving portion is disposed in the second longitudinal member.
15. A nacelle, comprising:
a first cowl panel;
a second cowl panel moveable with respect to the first cowl panel; and
a latch mechanism configured to secure the first cowl panel with respect to the second cowl panel, the latch mechanism comprising:
a T-bolt body mounted to the first cowl panel;
a T-bolt comprising a longitudinal rod extending in a longitudinal direction from the T-bolt body and a transverse rod disposed at an end of the longitudinal rod; and
a safety keeper mounted to the second cowl panel, the safety keeper defining a load slot configured to receive the transverse rod whereby the T-bolt is configured to secure the T-bolt body with respect to the safety keeper for securing the first cowl panel with respect to the second cowl panel, wherein the T-bolt body comprises an axial cutout extending longitudinally, wherein the axial cutout is configured to receive a pin and enable the T-bolt body to slide in the longitudinal direction with respect to the pin, and wherein the T-bolt body is pivotally mounted to the first cowl panel via the pin.
16. The nacelle of claim 15 , wherein the load slot comprises a T-bolt receiving portion and a T-bolt loading portion, wherein the T-bolt receiving portion comprises a lateral slot disposed in the safety keeper and the T-bolt loading portion comprises a longitudinal slot disposed in the safety keeper.